NWR- Calling all Nurses...( What made you become a nurse?)

My grandfather and father both died from cancer. They were my favorite people in the world. Watching them die hurt beyond words but also watching their nurses care for them and the compassion they showed not only my father and grandfather but my family was amazing. I want to be a nurse practitioner too. I'm finishing RN school. Going into trauma.

Becoming a nurse for me was about making a difference and helping people. I am a new grad RN with about 6 months of being an RN... Best and worse choice of my life. Nothing in school prepairs you for the backstabbing and petty coworkers. The pts that'll refuse everything then complain that you didn't offer them the things they refuse. You'll have doctors who scream at you when your just calling for orders. You'll have many thankless shifts where you don't feel like your making a difference, BUT then every once in while you'll get a patient that you make all the difference in there life. You'll get a hug from the family of the patient that you just tried to save, you'll get a thank you or a smile and you'll go home and try to hold on to that feeling till the next time it happens between all the crap.

Also if your in California just get your RN hospitals here don't hire LPNs, due to magnet status

I wanted to have a career where I was able to serve others. I love people and truly have compassion for all. I graduated with my BSN in May and am working in a Cardiac ICU. I absolutely love it! Nursing school is not easy. I went for my BSN after becoming a CNA. I highly suggest at least getting your ADN, not LPN. It will be hard to get a job as an LPN. Most hospitals are laying them off. No matter what path you take though, don't let anyone else tell you that you can't do it. Don't let anything take your focus off your goals. You will lose sleep, you will cry, you will want to quit, but it is the most rewarding feeling to find out you passed the NCLEX!

I became a nurse because I always loved science and wanted a profession where I could help others. I've been in nursing for 6 years and still love what I do today. I would recommend working as a tech/nursing assistant to see if you really like it--plus it is great experience! I feel like I learned more from my time as a tech than from school. Good luck!!! Nursing is an amazing career-difficult at times but overall you're helping others and always learning. You've got this!

This is good stuff ladies. Appreciate you guys sharing your experience and advice. :-)

Instead of NP I would try for PA school. I talked to a PA and an NP and they both agreed that PA programs are more beneficial.

I have been a nurse for 25 years. My mom said I decided when I was 2 and had my tonsils put that I was going to be a nurse.

I started with an ADN degree, went back after 21 years to complete my BSN. I am now 8 months away from finishing my MSN in Nursing Education.

I agree with pp, don't waste your time and money getting an LPN. If you can find a job, it will likely be in a nursing home. While a needed field in nursing, if you intend to further your education and practice environment, you will not obtain much applicable experience working in long term care.

I retired almost 6 years ago, but i was an RN for almost 40 years. When I was growing up, a lot of careers were not really open to women--I remember my choices being secretary, hairdresser, teacher or nurse. I decided in 8th grade to be a nurse--I didn't think I could master shorthand (yeah, that's how old I am!!), I have no talent for doing hair, and the only people getting teaching jobs in my state were those who taught math and science. Plus, I liked the idea that I could help make a sick person feel better, even if only in a small way. Then, my grandfather got cancer and he suffered terribly. I was a teenager and saw how helpless everyone felt because nobody could do anything to make him feel better--this was before hospice care was available. So I thought I'd go to nursing school, then go on to do cancer research. Well, I went to a 2 year nursing diploma program--we went to school year round and from our first week we were in the hospital learning patient care. I graduated, got a job and passed my boards. Most of my working years were spent in OB, then the OR. I loved what I did--in OB, I loved taking care of moms and their newborns, teaching moms how to take care of their babies. In the OR, I interviewed and assessed my patients and tried to calm any fears they had about their surgery. I was with them before surgery, as they went to sleep, and when they woke up in the OR. Being able to take away some of their apprehension meant that I was doing my job. I never did go on to do research, which is okay, since I'm more of a people person than a lab person.

Nursing is a lot different now than when I started. Some of it is for the better--new technology and medical advances can cure or alleviate conditions that used to be debilitating. But some of it is worse--nurses don't get taught as many hands-on skills that we did--a lot is passed off to CNAs--and they don't have the time to spend with their patients because hospitals are too freaking cheap to hire enough nurses.

I agree with some of the PPs--here in PA, the only places that hire LPNs are nursing homes or some home health agencies. Hospitals don't hire them. I'd go straight for the RN program.

Good luck!

My wife is a NP, sister in law a PA... My outsider take is a PA is more practical, as they can practice in all areas where as my wife can only do Pediatrics (as that is her specialty and education).

And as mentioned before, LPN's are getting replaced in hospital settings by Medical Assistant's it seems. Nursing home will most likely be your future.

Go for it!

I have been nsg for 32 years and have loved every second of it. It is difficult , tiring, and thankless sometimes . But every time you walk into that room and do something to alleviate your patients suffering it makes it worth it! It can be a treatment, medication, conversation or a simple hello and a smile. The salary is great , the hours are flexible and you become a family with your fellows nurses , cna's and doctors. I have raised a family on my own for over 25 years, worked nights and was able to be with them during their waking hours. It's a great job for a woman who plans on having a family. I have one daughter in nsg school now. There is good and bad in every profession , it's definitely a career you have to want to do and love but if it is it's wonderful! Good luck!

Good tips ladies. I just got hired as admin support at a hospital and I figured I could transition as Lpn once I finish my courses. The hospital is well know here in nyc and they do take Lpn's. Do you think I have a better chance? Or still just go for RN ?

Congrats on an awesome decision. I have been a nurse for 9 years (yikes!) and love it. I decided I wanted to be a nurse when I was in high school. Always did well in math and science, love dealing with people. I worked in the local hospital doing clerical/registration work during college. I have my BSN and currently no desire to get my MSN as I love the position I am in and don't need a MSN to do it. Doesn't mean I won't down the road. I would say if you have time and/or financial restrictions then by all means go for your LPN. If you are able to, go for a BSN or at least ADN. You will save yourself a lot of headaches. LPNs in my area only work in nursing homes/rehabs and some doctors offices. NPs rock - you can do more than a PA and in my personal experience they are more knowledgeable (work for a few years before getting your NP). Anyone with a bachelor's degree can become a PA.

I started out after I graduated in the hospital, inpatient ortho for 5 years, did 2 years in home hospice, and now I have been in an orthopedic office for 4 years (and love it!). Best of luck!

Congrats on starting your journey into the world of nursing! I've been a nurse for 7 years. I think I made the decision to go into nursing because A) I love science, anatomy, physiology, etc. I'm a nerd like that. B) I love people and helping others, so I wanted a career that would allow me to act in service of others. I went for my bachelors because the market began to change at that time where associate's nurses weren't always being hired and hospitals were making the shift to BSN prepared nurses. I found my niche early on and fell in love with oncology nursing. I did some travel nursing for a while and love seeing different areas of the country. I just finished my MSN in July and am now an Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist with Oncology Focus. It can be a tough career but so rewarding. There are also so many facets of nursing that you'll discover along the way, its not just bedside nursing! I wish you the best of luck and a long, rewarding career!

Makes sense @Stacy B. I will defintely consider at least adn. I am going back and forth between Lpn and Adn. I will do more research. Thanks

My daughter was born with a congenital heart defect. They didn't expect her to live past 10 days old. The woman who would become her cardiologist and her team assured me that she would live a long and happy life. With the care from the NICU nurses, who made sure I understood every procedure, the nurse practioner, and the nurses in the dr office I worked in, I knew it was my calling. I ended up giving up my career to take care of my daughter which is now 14 yrs old, in the 9th grade, and jrotc. 3 open heart surgeries and 7 angioplasties later ( btw please keep her in your prayers as she is to have another surgery this year)

My daughter and I

My advice would be skip the LPN!! Instead try an associates RN program, then you can get your BSN online while already working full time! Then down the road you could do your masters program for your NP online as well. I'm a new RN and I'm loving everything about it except for night shift lol! It's an amazing profession.

I just started my MSN-FNP. Don't waste your time/money on LVN, just go straight for your RN-BSN. I love the flexibility of changing specialties when I start to feel burnt out. There's so much to learn!

I honestly am not sure why I chose nursing. I remember filling out school applications and putting nursing down because I didn't really know what else there was out there. Two of my cousins are RNs that are a few years older than me, and they liked it, so I thought why not?

What I really wanted was marine biology but I wasn't too sure what to do with a degree like that. So nursing it was!

Being working for 3 years now in a NI/ICU and loving every second of it.

Eta: advice, you might think you know what you want (going into school I wanted ER/adult ICU.) NEVER wanted anything wit children. Unexpectedly was offered my current position and I thought " I'll get my 2 years experience then go elsewhere" now I can't imagine working anywhere else, let alone with adults.

Thats amazing @soon2bmrsashley, your daughter is defintely in my prayers. @ laurenwang and @honeylife. I have been reading forums on all nurses and I think I may just go for the asn instead of Lpn. All your stories are great and very encouraging. Thank you again!